Factors in fertility

Fertility and Weight

When it comes to weight and fertility it is often the case that too far towards either extreme can be a problem. If you are very underweight (normally defined as less than 22% body fat) then ovulation can stop or become very irregular. The same is true if you are very overweight. Some studies have found that being very over or underweight can also affect the success rates of fertility treatments such as IVF.

Fertility and Smoking

Smoking when trying to conceive may alter levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone which can make to more difficult to achieve a pregnancy. As well as this there are a number of other negative factors are associated with smoking. For example, a number of studies have claimed that IVF is less successful and pregnancy harder to achieve in women who smoke as compared to women who do not smoke.

Smoking also has effects during pregnancy itself. Women who smoke are more likely experience a miscarriage or have pre term deliveries or babies of a low birth weight. Smoking can also reduce fertility in men it is associated with impotence and can reduce sperm count and quality.

The good news is, however, that most of these problems will reduce or disappear quite quickly after you quit smoking and so if you are trying to conceive or planning to conceive you should seek advice about quitting, as well as the benefits to conception, it will have a huge positive affect on the health of your child after birth.

Fertility and Drinking

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol when trying to conceive can have an effect on fertility (this applies for both men and women). For men there is come evidence to suggest that alcohol lowers sperm count, therefore making pregnancy harder to achieve. It also has the more obvious effect of causing impotence. For women drinking large amounts of alcohol can have a number of damaging effects on the unborn baby, in severe cases causing death or foetal alcohol syndrome.

This is not to say that while you are trying to conceive you must not drink anything at all , the odd drink, for both men and women who are trying to conceive is normally considered totally acceptable. Drinking large amounts of alcohol, however, is not recommended for the reasons listed above. When you discover you are pregnant it is advised that you do not drink any alcohol.

Fertility and Age

In recent years the number of women who try for their first baby after the age of 35 has increased dramatically. For some age has no impact on the length of time it takes to conceive but others find it is much more difficult thanthey had imagined. After the age of 35 fertility decreases by an average of 3-5% each year and by more after the age of 40 and by 50 most women are infertile. The risk of miscarraige also increases with age, going from around a 12-15 % risk for a women under 25 to a 50% risk for a woman in her forties. If you are over 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than 6 months it is advisable to see your doctor for assesment as treatment may be more succesful sooner rather than later.

Fertility and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

It is estimated that around 5-10% of women have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It is common for more than one member of a family to be affected although it has not been proven that is is a genetic disorder. Some women experience few or no symptoms, others experience symptoms which include, infrequent or irregular periods, absent periods or trouble ovultating and this has a negative impact on fertility.

The good news is that fertility drugs, prescribed by your doctor can often help to induce ovulation and regulate periods aiding conception. Your doctor will also be able to advise you on the use of lifestyle changes and medications to control symptoms unrelated to fertility.

6.Fertility and Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condtion which affects women by causing cells like the lining of the womb to grow in other areas of the body. Just like the lining of the womb grows, is sheds and causes bleeding each month so do the cells which are growing outside  of the womb and because unlike the womb lining this has nowhere to go the bleeding casues swelling, pain and discomfort in the areas affected. The symptoms of endometriosis include heavy and painful periods, pain during and after sex and infertility. This condition can only be diagnosed by your doctor so if you think you may be affects you should make an appointment to have it confirmed. If you are trying to conceive with this condtion you should ask your doctor for advice as there are a number of possible treatments which can restore or increase your fertility and give you a higher chance of conception. Having said that under 40% of women who have endometriosis actually have decreased fertility and so you may not find that this affects your ability to become pregnant at all.